The bee hiue of the Romishe Church a com[m]entarie vpon the sixe principall pointes of Master Gentian Heruet, a Romish Catholike his booke, which is deuided into sixe partes, as in the argument doth appeare. And an epistle made by the authour of this booke vnto Franciscus Sonnius, late Bishop of Antwerpe. Translated out of Dutch into English, by George Gylpen the elder.

The .vi. Chapter: Declaring the life and reformation of Huguenote Preachers, and the citie of Geneua and to the contra∣rie, of the great vertues & valure of the citie of Rome: and of the loue and kindnesse of the church of Rome. And of the taxations or rate booke of the penaunce Parloure.

COncerning their liues, Maister Gen∣tian doeth put in vre his arte, whiche he learned of the Oratoures and maisters of eloquence and filed speaking: Forso∣muche as he doeth first burden his contra∣rie partie, with suche crimes, as his owne conscience doth pricke him for, and findes himselfe guiltie in: Notwithstanding he doeth handle the matter very circumspect∣lie: For he saieth but that, hee hearde say, That in the Citie of Potiers in Fraunce, was executed a Huguenote Preacher, who had (all his life time) bene a thiefe, and murtherer: and had with his owne handes murdered as good as a hundred per∣sons. And if so bee that this be true, it

seemes straunge vnto him, that suche prea∣chers will accuse and rebuke the Pope of Rome, for a theefe, and raueni••g bloud∣hounde, and the Cardinals and Bishop∣pes for villaines and reprobates. In deede it were straunge. For it is vnsitte, that one Woolfe shoulde bite an other. They ought rather to be faithfull friendes toge∣ther, and say according to the common pro∣uerbe: Te ti, Te mi, Clawe me and I will clawe thee: or, Keepe my counsell, and I will keepe thine.

Howebeit, Master Gentian will not say, or assure much thereof. For he saieth that he knoweth none such: wherein, as an ho∣nest man, he doeth acknowledge his faulte in time, least he might be taken for a bro∣ther of that companie. Therefore, although he saith that the common brute goeth, that there are some Huguenote Preachers whiche are little better than those whiche stande by the high way side, Fellons, and rauishers of virgins: yet he soone letteth slippe his purpose, and doth leaue them for such as they are. He feares perhappes, that he might come to nigh the holie sea••e of Rome, and rubbe the holie fathers to neere the gall. For it is not onely a com∣mon

reporte, but the verie truth, which e∣uerie one may see and feele, That when∣soeuer suche fellowes are wanting, which might fittely serue to furnish a Gallie, they are not to be found in anie place more rea∣die, than at Rome. For, according to the glosse which is written vpon the decrees, Rome was first founded and built by Rouers and Fellones, and doth yet ob∣serue her auncient customes. Wherefore it is called in Latine Roma, as though one shoulde say▪ Rodens manus, that is gnawing the handes. Like as the saide glosse doth testifie in the decrees, with this following verse:

Roma manus rodit, Quos rodere non valet, odit.

That is to say:

Rome gnawes the flesh, from th'andes of euerie one: And hates all those, of whom she can haue none.

Which being considered by the good & worthie king Alphonsus, he was wont to say: That the greedie, rauening, birdes, (called by the Poetes) Harpies, did not nestle or dwell anie longer in the Islandes▪ but were remoued to Rome,

and did possesse the Romishe Court. And too this purpose, in like maner, did Pope Adrian the 4. lament and complaine vpon, to Iohn. of Sarisburie, Bishoppe of Chartres, saying, that the Pope of Rome was rightlie named, Seruus seruorum, that is, A slaue of slaues, forsomuch as he was a seruant and slaue of the Romanes, which are the verie slaues and seruantes of couetousnesse. Like as the Glose doth also testifie, in this common verse:

Seruierant tibi, Roma, prius Domini Dominorum: Seruorum serui nunc tibi sunt Domini.

That is to say:

O Rome in time past, Lords of Lords were thy vassals: But nowe at the last, Slaues of slaues and ranke rascals Are Lords ouer thee, As all people see.

Yea, he said further, That the Pope of Rome was no more a follower of Peter, but of Romulus: which Romulus, in the time, when the citie walles were a buil∣ding, did murder his owne naturall bro∣ther called Remus: And within a small

while after, did perforce rauish the wiues and yong virgins of his neighbours the Sabines, vnder pretence of keeping a spe∣ciall day of solemnization. Insomuch as the citie of Rome is meerlie founded, sanc∣tified, and hallowed, with murder riot; and rauishing of women. And therefore, it is no maruell, though such birdes keepe their feastes there, and are so welcome into it.

Yea, not onlie Murderers, Spoylers by the high way side, and Rauishers of wo∣men, but also, all whatsoeuer (without ter∣rour) a man can not call to mind, to witte, All Buggerers, all such as lie with their mother and sister, all Sodomites and Go∣morites, all seducers of children, all vn∣godlie Epicures, which openlie do scoffe at God and Christ, all blasphemers and cursers, all periurers, all whoores and knaues, all proude and salte bitches, all Bawdes, Ruffians, and slewes haunters, all villaines and theeues, all falsifiers of Scriptures and Gods testament, all trai∣tours and ministers of poyson, all dice cog∣gers, false counterfeiters and clippers of coyne, C••awbackes, Parasites, Hangge∣byes, Shi••••ers and Couseners, all Sorce∣rers, and Coniurers, all newe fangled and

inuenting practisers, all braggers & boa∣sters, all enhaunsers of coyne, lease mon∣gers, and vsurers. In summe, all rascalls, knaues, roges, gallowclappers and casta∣wayes, keepe in the Court of Rome open housholde, and there bee enterteined and friendlie welcomed. There doe they ob∣teine Benefices by heapes, Bishops mi∣ters, Cardinals hats, & Popelie crownes. There do they write bookes of Sodo∣mitrie, and all maner incontinencie, and e∣steeme them for a godlie matter: like as haue done, the Bishoppe Monseur de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Casa, and Petro Aretino. There doe they keepe common schooles, and dispute, whether Matrimonie is better than So∣domitrie.

Also whether the soule be mortall, & whe∣ther Christ hath euer bene, like as Pope Leo the tenth did. There is kept the sta∣ple of all villainie which may be thought on. There do men fetch dispensations for all sinnes and incontinent liuing: like as may expressely be seene in the Taxa Poeni∣tentiaria. There do they buy and sell holy and vnholie women and men, sonnes and daughters, soule and bodie, Bulles and Pardons, Benefices and Venefices: yea God and the Diuell, S. Peter and Saint Paule, and all thinges whatsoeuer, are there to sell. Yea the towne it selfe would be solde, so far forth as a merchant might be found, who had monie ynough: like as sixteene or seuenteene hundreth yeres ago, was prophesied by one named Iugurtha. To conclude, there is not anie thing so wicked nor irksome in all the worlde, which is not franklie and freelie allowed and permitted to be done in Rome: onelie is excepted and forbidden, to liue godlie. Like as the aforenamed Monke Baptista Mantuanus him selfe hath testified, wri∣ting thus:

Viuere qui sancte cupitis, Discedite Roma:

Omnia cum liceant, Non licet esse pium.

That is to say:

All you, which desire to liue in holinesse, From Rome must retire, the sinke of sinfulnesse: Where all things are free, for euery man to vse: Saue godlie to bee, which all men must refuse.

Behold, for this cause was maister Gen∣tian well and wiselie aduised, and would not reason to farre in these matters, fearing least he might haue touched the Citie of Rome to nigh▪ forsomuch as eache doeth sufficientlie knowe, that the thrift and sta∣ple (of those things which hee did burthen the Heretikes withall) is in the citie of Rome, yea in the Court and Palace of the holie father the Pope. For Rome (as the Italian Poet Franciscus Petrarcha hath finelie soung) is a right,

Fontana di dolore, Albergo d'ira, Scola d'errori, •• T••mpio d'heresia: Gia Roma, hor Babylonia falsa & ria, Per cui tanto si piagne & si sospira. O fucina d'inganni, O priglon d'ira,

Oue'l ben muore, e'l mai si nutre & cria Di viui Inferno, vn gran miracol sia, Se Christo teco al fine non s'adira.

Item:

Nido di tradimenti, in cui se coua Quāto mal par lo mōdo hoggi si spāde, Di vin serua, di letti & di viuande, In cui Lussuria fa l'vltima proua, &c.

That is to say:

A gulfe of great greefe, a rocke of furious rage, And (take it in breefe) a schoole or common cage Of errours most straunge: Farre Rome to looke vpon, But (marke well the chaunge) nowe beastlie Babylon. O dungeon most deepe, of fraude, deceipte, and guile: O cage, fitte to keepe hotte hate and vengeance vile: Where vices preuaile, where▪ vertue lies starke dead, Where sinne with full saile all states hath long misselead, O whirlepoole of hell, O fowle and stinking lakes, Such as in thee dwell, all goodnesse quite forsakes.

A rare and straunge worldes wonder, thou wilt of all be thought, If Sathan keepe thee vnder, and Christ set thee at nought.

Item:

O neast of diuelish treason, from whence all vices issue: O enimie to reason, O fatall foe to vertue: O drudge to drowzie dronknesse, and surfetting excesse: O shrowde of shifters shamelesse, as whoores, and such like ghesse, &c.

To the contrarie hereof, these Hereti∣call and Huguenote Preachers, like as they are sworne enimies to the holie Ro∣mish religion, so in like maner do they hate and persecute the auncient Romish orders and worthie traditions: especiallie in that thrise accursed citie of Geneua, they are such terrible enimies to our Romish prac∣tises and worthie feates, that if anie dare once presume there with women, to prac∣tise the Romish, Gomorrian, or Clemen∣tine manner, hee should first bee made a Cardinal with a redde hatte vppon his head: or a Bishop at Tyborne, where he

might giue his benediction with his heeles: and his Mantle or Bishoppes cloake would not stand him in thirtie thou∣sand Ducates, like as the Mantles do at Rome.

Therefore, if maister Gentian his case be not cleare, as it is to bee doubted of one so faithfull a subiect of the holie Romishe Church, but that he is somewhat tainted with the Romish holinesse: I would by a∣nie meanes aduise him to visit these newe founde Preachers, or to tast of the Hugue∣notes reformation or mortification. Al∣though it seeme by his writing, that hee would gladlie knowe howe the matter is wrought amongest them: but if hee bee wise, he will keepe him thence, and beare aloofe from them, for it might breed a scab, and cause all the veines in his bodie to re∣pent his enterprise. For their mortificati∣on is to the Romish beleeuing Christians, such a bitter receipte and lothsome pill, that it would goe neere to make them burst. If maister Gentianus bee well in his wittes, hee will packe thence, and rather trudge to Rome to his father the Pope, to holde with the mortification of the holie Churche of Rome.

For our deare mother is so kinde, that she gladlie receiueth all commers into her lappe, according to the expresse text of the Prophet Ezechiel, to wit, The daughter of Israel hath laid open her legges, for e∣uerie one which passeth by her: and recei∣ueth euerie one, Lutheranes and Hugue∣notes onelie excepted. And further proui∣ded▪ that the taxations and rates of the A∣postolical Penance parlour, be allowed, in token of an vpright penance. As namelie: Whosoeuer hath layen with his mother or sister, the said shall for foure pounde Turnois, be remitted.

But whosoeuer, besides this, haue com∣mitted aduoutrie with her, to wit, shee hauing a husbande, then must hee paye six pound.

Whosoeuer is accused and founde guiltie of Simonie, shalbe forced to paie, fiue and thirtie poundes Turnoys.

But whosoeuer hath slaine father or mother, sister or brother▪ the saide shall scape scotfree with foure poundes, one Ducate, and six Carlines: and so of all o∣ther. Vnderstoode alwayes, that this va∣luation is ment and taketh hold, so long as the Romish Court is resident on this

side the mountaines, namely in France: For if she haue her habitation, on the o∣ther side the hilles, as in Italie, then for poundes and pence Turnois, shalbe rec∣koned pounds and pence stearling: like as the Iurist or Lawier Ludouicus Gor∣nesius hath written, and mencioned.

In summe, they can not commit anie so great a faulte, but they may at Rome for a peece of monie, haue dispensation for it, & so scape free without blame or punishmēt, insomuch as they shall neuer come in Pur∣gatorie, if they can keepe themselues from hell mouth: Whereas maister Gentian shalbe more welcome a great deale, than at Geneua, or elsewhere amongst the Hu∣guenote Preachers. And this worthie Booke or Epistle which hee hath made, may serue him verie well at Rome, for a speciall recommendation to the holie Fa∣ther the Pope, for to obteine him a Bis∣shops Myter, or a Cardinals hat.

Notes

• Of the citie of Rome.
• Gloss in cap. Fundamenta. N•• autem. De electi•• & elect. potestat. in 6.
• This writeth Iohn of Salis∣burie himselfe in his booke, called Speculum or the Mirrour. In cap. quotiens. 1.4.7.
• Iohannes de la Casa, Archbis∣shop of Beneuen∣ta, hath writ∣ten a booke in commendation of Sodomitrie calling it, A godlie worke, & saying, That he tooke great delight in the same, and vsed no other bed••ellow▪ He was Deacon of the Apostolical chamber, & the Popes Embassadour through••ut the whole countrie of Ve••ice: and hee is the same which first permitted the registre of the forbid∣den booke•• to be extant, in the yere 1549 the 7. of Maie. And the booke wherof we mētion, was printed at Venice, by the printer cal∣led No••us. Petrus A••etinus hath bin likewise a great friend to Popes, and hath published many bookes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he treates of many mat∣ters touching b••wderie, and caused manie filthie and vnseemel••e pictures to be made at Venice, and sundrie sortes of by sleeping to be printed, and made a booke and exposition vpon the same. In the yere 1558. in the dayes of Paule the 4. was one at Bullin, who did openly in the publike scholes argue vpon Shrou•• tuesday, against Matrimonie, in comendatiō of Sodomitrie. Of this disputation the Italian bookes be full.
• This doth Sa∣l••st declare in his historie na∣med, Bellum Iu∣gurthinum.
• Ezech. 16.25.
• In Reg. Cancella. In regula de ••a∣lore exprime••••o Col. 4.